Nothing is as graceful as lace. This
toe-up lace sock covers the whole foot with
grace since the lace pattern starts from
the tip of the toe.

Twisted-stitch tendrils lick flame-like
at the edges of the foot, then blossom into vines that
extend up the sides. This sock features a rounded toe
and gusset/heel flap construction, my favorite construction
for a really well-fitting sock.

The inspiration for this genteel sock came
from the yarn, Plucky Knitter Primo, a merino/cashmere/nylon
blend with a high percentage of cashmere, in the soft
and subtle Naragansett Gray colorway.

This lucky skein
plopped into my hands during Sock Summit 2011 and tortured
my thoughts and dreams until this sock emerged. We
should all be so lucky as to endure torture at the
hands of beautiful sock yarn! I call this an act of
Grace, don’t you?

PATTERN NOTES[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Stitch patterns are very stretchy widthwise!
Please keep this in mind when choosing
the size for your sock.

As for all toe-up socks, the length of the area between the
toe increases and the gusset increases
is the key to getting a good fit. The
measurements in the pattern work if your
round gauge is very close to the
gauge specified above. Please adjust your measurements
if your round gauge is different, as
follows: If you’re
getting fewer rounds per inch, subtract
.25 of an inch from the given measurement.
If you are getting more rounds per inch,
add .25 of an inch to the given measurement.

LT: With right needle in back of work, skip first st on left
needle and knit the second st in the back loop, then knit the
first st in the front loop. Slip both sts together from the left
needle.

RT: K2tog but leave these sts on left
needle, then knit first st again. Slip both sts together from
the left needle.

M1 (make 1): Insert tip of left needle
from front to back under strand of yarn between needles, and
knit into the back of this loop.

Make Knot: In next st, knit in the front,
back and front – 3 sts. Pass first and second sts over
third st – 1 st remains.

ChartsThe charts for this pattern are very large.
Each fits on a letter-sized page.
Click below and print each resulting
page.

Toe:
Using your chosen toe-up CO method, CO 22 sts, or 11 sts on each of two
needles. Distribute sts as you prefer and join for working in the round.
Divide sock into instep and sole as follows: the first 11 sts are the instep
sts; the remaining 11 sts are the sole sts.

Foot:Foot round: Work appropriate
size of Instep chart over 29[33] sts
of instep, k across sole sts.
Work as set until sock is 2.75[3.75]
inches shorter than your foot. See Pattern
Note for adjustment to this measurement
according to your own round gauge.

Heel TurnNote: the first and last of the normal heel
stitches, the stitches just inside the
gusset increases on either side, will be incorporated into the
gusset stitches. These
two extra gusset stitches are decreased
away, helping reduce the risk of holes at the
top of the heel.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until 12 sts remain unwrapped in center
of heel, with 7[9] wrapped sts and 13[17] unwrapped sts on each
side to form the gusset.

Next row [RS]: Row 5: K12, (pick up wrap on next st
and knit together with the st) 6[8] times, pick up wrap on next
st and knit together with that st and the next unwrapped st (3
loops together), turn.

Following row [WS]: Slip 1,
p18[20], (pick up wrap on next st and
purl together with the st) 6[8] times,
pick up wrap on next st and purl together
with that st and the next unwrapped
st (3 loops together), turn. 26[30]
heel sts, 12[16] gusset sts on each
side.

Leg
Continue to work Back in Heel Flap chart,
substituting k1 tbl for the first slipped
st and the last ssk, until you have
completed the current repeat of the
Instep chart.

Establish leg patterning as follows: Work Instep /
Front chart over 29[33] instep sts, work rounds 1-8 of Back
chart over 26[30] back sts. If you find yourself ending Heel
Flap chart over Back sts on a Row 2, keep the continuity of
the twisted st pattern over the center 4 sts as you work up
the back of the sock.

Continue as established, working rounds 1-8 of Instep and Back
charts six more times, or until sock is 1 inch shorter than
desired length. Sample as photographed has leg approximately
6.5 inches long.